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I would rather have WISN than 90% of the useless channels TWC carries. For years now I have been waiting for Time Warner to carry the NFL network, and they don't even make an attempt to carry it. "Time" for this monopoly to be broken up.

You're wrong; Time Warner has continued to approach the NFL from time to time for carriage of the NFL Network. However, as far as anyone has heard, the NFL has held steady on their demands, asking one of the highest per-customer rates of any cable network, and they are mandating inclusion on a standard tier of channels instead of a specialty sports tier. They are not willing to negotiate on either point, so Time Warner doesn't have much choice; they could cave to the NFL's demands like other providers, or stand firm. For the limited scope of the network, I hope they continue to stand firm.

As far as a monopoly, they aren't. There is competing services from AT&T in many areas, as well as Dish and DirecTV (who, BTW, is in the middle of their own carriage squabble).

SMCMAC32That will change,just wait.AT&T is still relatively new to the area and is trying get more customers with lower prices.TWC was a lot cheaper and as they got more customers they're prices started going up.The same thing will happen with AT&TUnless you want to keep looking for deals and changing providers you'll pay more.Eventually the market will be saturated and everyone will be paying about the same.

One correction, Duane: Hearst doesn't dispute the 300% increase. They dispute the "characterization" of the increase. There's a big difference. The latter to me sounds like they don't dispute the facts, just the way they sound coming from Time Warner. (They also say that they dispute that they are blacking out the network, even though they clearly are, so they aren't exactly a real trustworthy source in this whole mess.)

ITA, the "300%" needs to be put into better context. A percentage alone is meaniless and inflammatory.

What is the current rate TWC pays Heart per cable TV subscriber? Is it ten cents and Hearst wants thirty cents? Or is it five dollars and they want fifteen? Would be nice to have more specific information.

The pot is stirred my friend....tell your TWC buddies I am sick and tired of them not having the NFL Network. I have to leave my wife and kids on Thursday nights to watch football at the bar, because I can't watch the game at home. Enough of Swamp People, and Pawn Swamp People....I want football and I want it now! Football is king.

This is such childish behavior by these companies. What happened to the public owning the airwaves. Obviously that adage no longer applies, probably because this medium is transmitted by either satellite or cable. But to me the same principal applies and their ought to be some sort of accountability here to the public for using subscribers as pawns. Back in the day, this would never have happened, especially to a key local TV station. I can guarantee you that there won't be any credits coming your way on bills. Would these companies like to see the FCC step in or be more heavily regulated - I don't think - so but there might have to be some sort of governmental action to prevent this because it is becoming all too commonplace now. I am a DirecTV subscriber and my kids are deeply upset that Nickelodeon is off the air. Perhaps the only way to prevent this is to call up the company and threaten to take your business elsewhere.

But who actually watches Channel 12 over the airwaves now. To do that now you better have a digital TV - good luck getting the signal without some sort of antenna or converter that no one has. Most people have had cable or satellite for years and won't know how to go about tuning it in anyway.

I do. Got rid of cable/sat years ago. Small HD (less than $50.00) antenna in the house and I get all the major channels with great reception. Don't miss cable/sat at all. Free at last, free at last, free at last.

Actually, plenty of people have the converter - I do in one room that does not have a cable outlet. Most of my neighbors do also. You just go to walmart and pay about 12 bucks for a box. You get some extra channels too that are not available on cable. Rather nice I might add and the reception is fine.

I believe my comments reflect the realities of 21st century TV viewership that most people have either cable or satellite. I have satellite - 4 TV's strong with a number of other devices attached - and thus would not unplug one of my boxes to watch Channel 12 over the air. I'd merely tune to one of the other stations in town or go to a national network to get news. I read somewhere recently that Milwaukee had the lowest cable/satellite viewership of larger markets in the country. No surprise there - we know how "frugal" most Milwaukeeans are. I for one would go stir crazy watching the half dozen or so crap local channels that might be on over the air TV. So if you don't have either cable or satellite, all the power to you - enjoy.

But we're no longer in the 1950's. Most people in the area will be affected by this since they have cable.

Yet another reason to ditch these crooks -----so sick of Time Warner Cables monopoly of the system....they are way over prices, thier service sucks, and now i have to go without Ch 12 because they cant pull thier greedy heads out of thier as&*$!!!!!

Why do they have a monopoly?There is Direct TV,Dish and AT&T.By the way Direct TV and Dish have also dropped stations.It's simply part of the game if you want Cable.Channel 12 is going to be hurting a lot more than TWC-bad move on Hearst's part.